Romans 4:16-25

16: For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17: (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18: In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”

19: Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
20: yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21: and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
22: Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
23: Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24: but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25: He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

*** 

Paul explained that God gives justification by grace, through faith, so that anyone can receive it, not just those of the Law. God told Abraham He had made him a father of many nations. Abraham believed, so he could receive that promise. He considered the fact that he was almost 100 years old, and Sarah’s womb was dead, yet he didn’t waver--he grew strong in faith--being fully assured that God was able to do what He had promised. As a result, his faith was counted as righteousness to him. Not only for his sake, but for ours too—all those who believe in Jesus. Jesus was crucified because of our sin and raised from the dead because of ,(or to bring about), our justification.

Abraham had to become the father of at least one child before he could be the father of many nations. It looked impossible for that the happen at his and Sarah’s age. Yet against all probability, he believed that God was able to do what He had promised. His faith justified him in God’s sight and is what made him not only the physical father of the Jewish nation through his son Isaac, but the spiritual father of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ whom God raised from the dead as evidence that the price for our justification was paid for and salvation is available to all who believe—Jew or Gentile.



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